Victims of the fire that destroyed parts of the SPAR shopping complex in Calabar will receive support from crossed river State Government as the administration moves to assess the extent of the damage and facilitate recovery for affected businesses.
Governor Bassey Otu gave the security following the incident, which affected shops and properties within the shopping complex.
The governor’s position was conveyed by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, who visited the site to assess the damage and commiserate with the management and traders whose businesses were affected.
Odey said the state government would not abandon the fire victims and assured them of immediate intervention after a thorough assessment of the losses.
“His Excellency the Governor is deeply concerned by this unfortunate incident. We are here to empathize with the management, traders and all those affected, and assure them that they are not alone in this difficult time,” he said.
According to him, the government will determine the extent of the damage and identify areas that require urgent intervention to allow affected businesses to recover.
“The government will not abandon anyone who has suffered losses as a result of this incident. We will assess the extent of the damage and determine what immediate intervention is required to assist the victims and support the recovery process,” Odey said.
He revealed that the Director General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Efa Nyong, had initiated arrangements to conduct a detailed assessment of the affected facilities and identify the immediate needs of the victims.
Odey said the exact cause of the fire had not been established, although preliminary indications pointed to a possible electrical fault.
“We have spoken to management but at this stage we cannot say conclusively what caused the fire. There are indications that it may have been electrical but we must allow the relevant authorities to carry out their investigations before reaching a definitive conclusion,” he said.
The lieutenant governor stressed that the government’s intervention would go beyond sympathy and stated that practical measures would be taken to help affected traders and businesses recover.
“Our goal is not just to come here, sympathize with the victims and leave. We want to see how the government can support them to recover,” he said.
Odey also commended the Cross River State Fire Service for their prompt response as well as the Federal Fire Service for joining the firefighting operation, saying their combined efforts helped prevent the fire from spreading further.
He described the firefighters’ intervention as an act of bravery and sacrifice, noting that the first responders had put their lives at risk to protect lives and property.
The deputy governor also commended the Nigeria Police and other security agencies for securing the premises and preventing looting or other criminal activities following the incident.
Meanwhile, Odey revealed that the state government had initiated measures to address some environmental and infrastructure challenges in the area.
He said water was being redirected from Channel 1 to reduce the risk of structural collapse and protect homes and other properties along the drainage corridor.
“We cannot wait until another disaster strikes to act,” he said.
The deputy governor expressed concern over the series of emergencies recorded in Calabar in a short period, including fires and landslides, saying the development required a more coordinated approach to disaster prevention and response.
He revealed that the state government was engaging federal agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-South Development Commission (SSDC) and agencies responsible for the National Green Fund, to ensure technical and financial assistance to address some of the emerging challenges.
Odey reiterated the administration’s commitment to protecting lives, livelihoods and investments across the state, assuring residents that the government would continue to respond to emergencies.
“The government is here for the people. Whenever our people face challenges of this nature, we will respond. We may not be able to undo what happened, but we can reduce the pain, support recovery and ensure that the lessons from the incident are used to prevent its recurrence,” he said.
He urged SPAR management and affected merchants to remain calm and cooperate with SEMA and other relevant agencies while the damage assessment continues.
WATCH THE BEST VIDEOS FROM Newslodge TV